Staten Island, NY -- John Dellorusso looks over his backyard which now contains the debris from a nearby restaurant. His home, at right, was severely damaged and his girlfriend refuses to return to the house.

AMERICAN RED CROSSThe Red Cross is providing shelter, clothes, supplies, food and blood, as needed, for the victims of Sandy. You can donate blood, but in terms of items, you'll be doing more for those in need by donating money instead of physical goods.

Text message: Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. As in the case with other donations via mobile, the donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate this way. (If you change your mind, text the word STOP to 90999.)

SALVATION ARMYThe Salvation Army is providing meals and shelter. "At this point, in-kind donations, such as used clothing and used furniture, are not being accepted for hurricane relief. However, these items are vital to supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army," the organization said Tuesday in a press release.

Text message: Text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation. To confirm the donation, respond with the word “Yes.”

Staten Island, NY -- Jane Caravello pauses for a moment after wading a couple hundred yards from her house. "Half of it is down there and the other half is on Beach Ave."

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATESMany pet owners were able to take their pets with them, but for those who were not, the Humane Society's Animal Rescue Team is assembling staff and equipment to help rescue pets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITYHabitat, an international organization, helps those in need rebuild their homes after disaster strikes.

Phone: As of Tuesday morning, Habitat's online donation system was not available. If you want to make a donation, you can call Habitat's Partner Service Center at 800-HABITAT (422-4828). Press "0" when prompted and representatives will take your donation information over the phone.

AMERICARESThis group provides emergency medicine and supplies. Donations are accepted on its accepts donations on its website.

Phone:800-486-4357.

NEW YORK CARESThis local NYC program is "the city's largest volunteer organization, running volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies and public schools." It is recruiting volunteers to help with Sandy relief efforts, and is also raising money.

BREEZY POINT FUND RAISEROne of the most badly damaged communities in Sandy's wake is Breezy Point, Queens. Catholic University student Matthew Petronis created this fundraising page to help his community rebuild. "I have seen the damage and can say that the place where I grew up during my childhood is almost gone," he wrote on the page, "but that is not the case for the children that are growing up now!"

BENEFIT CONCERTNBC Universal will host a benefit for Sandy victims on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts. Find more info here.

Remember that while giving is good, beware of those out there who are not good and are trying to trick you by taking your money. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene last year, the Federal Trade Commission's caution still holds true: "Scammers may try to take advantage of a disaster, and so consumers should be wary of urgent appeals for charitable donations, and watch out for fraudulent home repair schemes after a storm."

Also, the FBI has counseled on its Facebook page "to beware of fraudulent emails and websites claiming to conduct charitable relief efforts. Disasters prompt individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization or a good cause," and suggests reading "Tips on Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes" to learn more about avoiding online fraud.